Long periods out of work 'can cause difficulty'

Young people who spend significant periods out of employment or training could find that it is harder to secure employment in the long term, it has been suggested.

Jim Hillage, director of research at the Institute for Employment Studies, was commenting on newly-published figures which indicate that the number of Scottish school leavers entering employment decreased by three per cent to 25 per cent in 2007-08.

At the same time, the number of unemployed young people seeking a job or training remained stable at 11 per cent, indicating that more young people are taking indefinite breaks before entering the jobs market.

Mr Hillage said this was a problem for Scotland in particular, but a generally-applicable trend  one he claimed could intensify as the economic downturn continues, with demand for jobs steadily increasing.

According to Trades Union Congress research entitled Young and older workers worst hit by unemployment, published in November, the number of people aged between 18-24 unemployed for up to six months, and for six to 12 months, is rising at a faster rate than that of the general population.